Blade loading machine



July 27, 1943.

H. HILL BLADE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY July 27, 1943..

Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 M we m5 ATTORNEY July 27, 1943. 2,325,133

BLADE LOADING MACHI NE Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY ATTORNEY RA. mm m N4 1M w July 27, 1943. H. HILL BLADE LOADING MACHINE Flled May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 27, 1943. HQ HILL I BLADE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 27, 1943. H. HILL 2,325,133

BLADE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1942 IO Sheets-Sheet 6 mmmm INVENTOR Mae/MAW 6914 B ATTORNEY H. HILL July 27 1943.

BLADE LOADING MACH INE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 28, 1942 INVENTOR A:

ATTORNEY July 27, 1943. H. HILL BLADE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 III! 1 IWT.

7 ATTORNEY July 27, 1943. H. HILL 2,325,133

BLADE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR fife/M I A? ATTORNEY l atented July 27, 1943 BLADE LOADING MACHINE Hermann Hill, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Magazine Repeating Razor Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 28, 1942, Serial No. 444,864

10 Claims.

The invention relates broadly to machines for loading blades, especially razor blades, cards, and articles of a similar nature and shape, into receptacles.

More particularly, it is adapted for loading razor blades into trays, such as are used for filling and re-filling the magazines of razors of the magazine type-such, for example, as are used in the standard commercial form of the Schick razor.

The object is to load such trays rapidly and efficiently at a minimum of cost and without danger of injuring the blade edge in the process.

A more specific object is a machine of the above described character that is capable of loading a stack of blades into a tray and interposing somewhere in the stack a blade of special appearance or design to serve as a marker to indicate the extent to which the contents of the stack have been depleted. As the operator of the razor uses the blades from the magazine one by one, he comes in time to the special blade and that indicates to him just how many more blades there are left and prompts him to acquire a new supply before the stack has been entirely used.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view of the machine with some parts removed and others broken the better to show details;

Fig. 2 is a view of the machine in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the mechanism for feeding empty trays to be loaded and for discharging loaded trays;

Fig. 8 is a view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the gate that limits the number of blades withdrawn or dislodged per cycle from the source of supply;

Fig. 10 is a perspe tive view wherein the cycle has started showing he arrangement of the loading tools;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the operation of the gauge for accurately aligning the ends of the blades as they are stacked;

Fig. 12' is a plan view showing the loading tools and the mechanism for preventing operation of the machine when a tray is not in position therein to be loaded;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view showing a step in the operation of the loading tools;

Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 are detail views showing four successive steps in the operation of the loading tools;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing in enlarged detail the mechanism for advancing the columns of blades constituting the sources of pp y;

Fig. 19 is a detail View of the lever that operates the injector;

Fig. 20 is a skeleton view showing the tongue and ejector blade platform and the mechanism that operates them;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a tray adaptable to be loaded by the machine;

Fig. 22 is a chart showing the timing of the motions of the cam-operated parts during a single cycle;

Fig. 23 is a detail view of the conveyor.

The invention is illustrated and described as adapted for the loading of razor blades into a special form of tray actually in commercial use in a special form of blade magazine. More broadly however, as will become apparent, adaptation for loading this particular form of tray or for loading razor blades is not an essential part of the invention, the machine being readily adaptable by modifications within the ability of most designers for the loading of many other forms of trays, containers, receptacles, and the like with many different articles. Since, however, many parts of the machine are in fact structurally and functionally adapted for handling the above described special form of tray and loading razor blades into it, the tray and the blades will be described.

The tray is illustrated in Fig. 21 as lying on one side and comprises a bottom wall I provided with an elongated aperture 2, an end wall 3 from the edge of which projects the lip 4, and another end wall 5 from which projects a lug 5. Flanges I, l, 8, 8, and 9 are provided for confining the blades.

The blades are of rectangular shape as viewed fiatwise and only one edge is sharpened. They are loaded into the tray fiatwise with their sharpened edges against the flanges 1, l and their blunt edges against the flanges 8, 8. They fit closely in the tray but not so closely but they may readily be removed without sticking. Any number within the capacity of the tray may constitute a stack, but for purposes of illustration I will describe the machine as adapted to load twelve sharpened blades and one unsharpened indicator blade, if desired. This indicator blade is merely a blade of distinctive appearance, usually unsharpenedi. e., interposed in the stack near the bottomsay, between the fifth and sixth blade. Its purpose is to indicate to the user of a razor that there are only a certain number of blades left in his magazine. This is frequently desirable in view of the fact that the interior of the magazine is not usually visible to the user.

A brief outline of the several steps constituting a cycle will assist in an understanding of the details of the mechanism and how they function. The power input may be through a onecycle clutchi. e., a clutch which after being engaged at the beginning of a cycle completes the cycle and then is automatically disengaged, remaining so until it is again engaged by the machine operator, each cycle filling a tray and delivering the filled tray to a common place of reception or the machine may be run without interruption as will be later pointed out. The blades constituting the source of supply are, if the indicator blades are used, arranged in two parallel spaced columns, one column containing the sharpened blades and the other containing the indicator blades. The sharpened blades rest on their unsharpened edges. Two slides operate on the column of sharpened blades and another slide on the column containing the indicator blades. Five sharpened blades, for example, are first placed in position; an indicator blade is then placed in position; and seven sharpened blades or whatever number is chosen are then placed in position-thus forming a stack of thirteen blades including the indicator blade between the fifth and sixth sharpened blades. The tray is then advanced by a slide until it encloses the stack, whereupon the loaded tray is elevated to a position from which it is caused to slide down a chute to a roller conveyor and led to a platform from which it and previously deposited stacks are removed for inspection and loading into a magazine.

The blade feeding mechanism The column A of indicator blades is contained in a channel l and the column B of sharpened blades is contained in a channel H, the channels being parallel with and spaced from each other (Figs. 1, l0, and 12).

On the table 12 of the machine are mounted standards l3, l3 which in turn support a plate l4. Along the edges of the plate are two lower rails l5 and I6. Also on the plate l4 there is a standard I! which supports the plate 20 and along the edges of which run two upper rails 2| and 22. Each pair of rails, comprising an upper rail and a lower rail, serves as a guide for one of the carriages 23 and 24. the rails engaging the grooves 25 in the carriages (see Fig. 5). Each carriage may therefore slide along its guiding rails independently of the other. Each carriage is provided with a pair of brackets 26 and 26a in bearings in which are rotatably mounted the rods 2'! and 28. Each rod carries an arm 3| at the ends of which are pivotally mounted equalizing shoes 32. 32, which travel in the channels In and I with the travel of the carriages and, actuated by the mechanism about to be described, bear against the columns A and B of blades and feed them forward to th stacking line. The mechanism referred to is a pulley arrangement comprising the two pulleys 36 and 31 mounted on the vertical shaft 40 independently of each other and freely rotatable. The shaft 40 projects from the base plate l4 and into the upper plate 20. The cable 4| is reeved from the pin 42 projecting inwardly from the carriage 24, thence around the pulley 36, thence over the pulley 43, thence around the pulley 44, thence over the pulley 45, thence around the pulley 31 to the pin 46 projecting inwardly from the carriage 23. The weight 41 hangs from the pulley 44 (Fig. 18) and therefore the cable is under an unvarying tension tending to drive the equalizing shoes 32 against the columns of blades in the channels in which they respectively travel. As will be obvious, it makes no difference how many blades are in the channels since the pressure is always the same, driving the columns of blades as a whole to the stacking line.

In loading the blade column channels, it may be desirable to load them when the carriages are fully advanced under the tension of the cable 4| and then to withdraw the carriages. If it is desired to do so, the channels may first be loaded and then by swinging the equalizing shoes upwardly, which is permitted by the rotatable mounting of the shafts 21 and 28, the carriages may be retracted sufficiently far to permit the equalizing shoes to be swung down into the channels. When this has been done and the carriages released, the columns of blades will be automatically compacted by the pressure of the shoes and driven to the stacking line.

Two independent slides 50 and 5| for feeding the sharpened blades to stacking position (the former serving to feed five blades at a stroke and the latter to feed seven blades at a stroke) are provided. The slide 50 terminates in a finger 52 and the slide 5| in a finger 53, the thickness of each finger being equal to the thickness of the number of blades which it is to feed, and the fingers being contiguous to each other and when in retracted position occupying the aperture 54 in which they are freely slidable. The width of the aperture 54 is just sufficient to accommodate them together with a sliding fit. Each slide is actuated on its working stroke by means of weights 55 and 56, each weight being suspended by chains 51 and 58 running over idler pulleys 59 and 60 and attached to the slides themselves (Fig. 2). Each slide is therefore operable independently of the other although, as will appear, there is a definite timing relation as between them. The rearward strokes of both slides and the timing of the working stroke are controlled and timed by cams and a suitable chain of operating mechanism. Motions of the five-blade slide 50 are controlled by the cam 60 fixedly mounted on the main shaft 6| driven through a one-cycle clutch already mentioned and which will be further described in detail. The cam follower 62 for the cam 60 is mounted on a lever 63 pivotally mounted on the stud 64 set in the frame of the machine, the free end of the lever operating against the stop 65 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The timing relationship of the slide to the timing of the other parts will be described in connection with the description of its mr e of operation, but it will be apparent that with an oscillating motion of the lever 53 on its pivotal mounting 64 will alternately compel a rearward stroke of the slide against the tension of the chain 51 and then permit a working stroke under the tension of the chain. The mode of operation of the seven-blade slide 5| is essentially similar to that of the slide 50. This slide is operated by the cam 68 through the cam follower 10, through the lever ll pivoted on the stud 64 and operating on the stop 13 amxed to t slide 5|. The timing however differs from that of the timing of the five-blade slide as will later appear. The slides are provided with adjustments in the form of set screws I4 and I5 threaded inblocks I6 and TI. The set screws abut against the block 80 (Fig. 2) which fixes the limit of the working stroke, this limitbeing variable to the extent of the range ofaction of the set screws.

The indicator blade slide 8| operates in a way substantially similar to that of the sharpened blade slides 50 and 5|. As in the case of the sharpened blade slides, the working stroke is powered by a weight 82 suspended from a chain 84 running over an idler pulley 84 and connected to the slide. The motions of the slide are controlled by a cam 85 mounted on the main shaft. The cam follower 86 (dotted lines, Fig. 1) is mounted on the lever 81 which, in turn, is pivoted at 88 to the bracket 90 fixedly mounted with respect to the main frame. Intermediate the pivotal mounting of the lever 81 and the cam follower there is pivotally connected a link 9|. The link 9| is also pivotally connected to the lever 92 pivotally mounted at 93 afiixed to a bracket 94 affixed to the main frame. The free end 95 of the lever is in contact with the stop 96 on the slide 8|. The oscillation of the lever alternately withdraws the slide 8| and permit: it to be advanced by the weight 82 on the working stroke.

It will be apparent atthis point that by a proper design and timing of the cams actuating the sharpened blade slides and the indicator blade slides, five sharpened blades will be first ejected from the stack, then an indicator blade is added to the stack by the motion of the indicator slide, and then seven more blades are added to the stack by the motion of the sevenblade slide 5|.

The stacking clamping means As the sheaf of blades constituting a stack are successively fed from the columns of blades, they must be kept in a compact condition. The tools between which the blades are clamped as they are added to the stack comprise the roller 9! and the upwardly projecting tongue 98. The roller 91 is mounted for free rotating beneath and is connected to the frame I00, and its periphery projects (as will be seen from Fig. 4) somewhat beyond the extreme end of the frame. Also beneath and connected to the frame is a second roller IOI; the diameter of the latter roller is very nearly equal to the width of the channel I02 (Fig. 12) in which it travels. the sides I82a, I92a of the channel serving as a guide. Also beneath and connected to the frame are two rollers I03, I03 which are spaced so that they travel freely but without side motion in the channel I02. This construction permits the frame with all the rollers to move in the channel which they occupy with a minimum of friction. The frame is normally pressed toward the stacking point by the spring-pressed ro I84 contacting with the down-turned lip I05. The rod freely slides in bearings I06, I86 in the supports I3, I3, and the spring pressure is derived from the compressed spring IO'I bearing against the fixed collar Iflla 0n the rod and also against the rear support I3. The roller 91 co-operates with the tongue 98 in the operation of stacking. The tongue has motions in two directions, but for the present the description of the mechanism for producing them will be deferred, it being merely noted that it is capable of sliding up and down and also of receding and advancing.

The operation of stacking by the action of the slides 50, 5|, and BI involves driving each sheaf of blades composing a stack between the spring-pressed roller 91 and the upwardly projecting tip of the tongue 98, the spring-pressed roller yielding as each sheaf is projected between these two parts. In other words, five blades are first introduced by the working stroke of the slide 50, then an indicator blade is introduced by the working stroke of the slide 8|, and then the stack is completed by the introduction of seven more blades by the working stroke of the slide 5|, the roller 91 receding but maintaining a resilient pressure as each sheaf is added.

Means are provided for preventing the dislorgment from the source of supply of more than a pro-selected number of blades at each stroke. In the absence of such means, the ejectionsay of the first sheaf of five bladeswould probably carry an extra blade or two with themor at least would dislodge them from the column. The means for preventing this effect consists of a gate mechanism shown in Fig. 9 and the location of the gate is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the detailed drawing (Fig. 9), the gate itself is indicated by the numeral H0, and it is pivotally mounted on the pin III fixedly mounted with respect to the main frame and with which the slot II2 engages. It is maintained in engagement by pressure of the leaf spring II3, As will be apparent, the purpose of this form of connection is to enable the gate to be readily removed and replaced by another when it is desired to adjust the machine to vary the number of blades that can be transferred by each stroke of the slides and 5|. The gate takes two positions during a cycle-one position (viz., that shown in Fig. 9 in full lines) permitting the transfer of only five blades through the gap Ill. In the other position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 9)i. e., when the gate has dropped seven additional blades can be projected through the wider gap indicated by the dotted line position of the gate. The timing of the rise and fall of the gate is controlled by the cam Il5 (Figs. 2-3) acting on a cam follower I I6, which in turn is mounted on the end of a lever I I! pivotally mounted on the frame at H8. The other end II9 of the lever works on a rod I20 which, in turn, alternately lifts the gate against the pressure of the spring 3 and allows it to drop under the pressure of said spring. The motion of the gate is, of course, timed to present a narrow gap while the first sheaf of five blades is being projected and to present a wide gap when the sheaf of seven blades is added to the stack.

The stack end positioner It is necessary, as will subsequently appear, that the longitudinal alignment of the blades in the stack be very accurate. To effect this purpose, the slide I2| is provided (Figs. 11 and 12) which is normally retracted by the spring I 22 afiixed to the frame and entering the notch I23 in the slide. The indicator blade slide BI is provided with a lug I 24 which in the nearly advanced position of the working stroke of the indicator slide abuts the slide I2I and drives it against the resistance of the spring I22 until the blades of the stack are aligned between the lug and the five blade slide, the length of the slide I2I being carefully gauged to position the ends of the blades in the stack as they are projected into the stack by the sharpened blade slides 50 and 5|. On withdrawal of the indicator blade slide, the slide I2I recedes under the action of the spring I22 and thus clears the end of the blade stack. This permits the tray in which the stack is to be packed to enclose it, as will presently appear. It should be noted that the thickness of the finger I25 of the indicator blade slide is no greater than that of an indicator blade and in order to insure that it will not project more than one indicator blade at a stroke is preferably slightly less. It is to be noted that the finger I25 of the indicator blade slide passes through the slot I24a in the slide I2I (Fig. 10) and that the width of the working end of the slide I2I is equal to the width of the thirteen blade stack.

The tongue mechanism The receding motion of the tongue 98 which has been before-mentioned, comes into play during the stacking operation. It takes place after the first sheaf of five blades has been projected into stacking position, and its purpose is to allow this sheaf of five blades to move the thickness of one blade toward the front of the machine in order that the indicator blade shall move into position without clashing with the exposed blade already in the stack. The motion is brought about by the cam I acting on the cam follower I3I, which is carried at the end of a lever I32 (Fig, 5) pivoted at I33 to the main frame. The other arm of the lever shown in dotted line (Fig. 5) pivotally abuts the rod I36, the end of which bears (as shown in Fig. 4) on the tongue at I31. The tongue is normally kept in its rearward position by the piston I38 acted upon by the expansion spring I40. It has just been explained that the tongue is caused to recede a distance equal to the thickness of one blade after the first lot of five has been stacked and that this is to permit the indicator blade to be stacked without clashing with any of those already stacked, as shown in Fig. 11. It should now be explained that after this receding and after the indicator blade has been stacked, the tongue moves forward the thickness of a blade. carrying with it the five sharpened blades and the indicator blade a distance equal to the thickness of one blade. Its motion in this direction is limited by the casting against which it bears (Fig. 4) The next operation is the dropping of the gate and the projection of seven more blades to the stack. Prior to the last movement occurs the second motion of the tongue to carry the stack of blades (now consisting of six) toward the front of the machine a distance equal to the thickness of one blade. This motion insures that there shall be no clashing between any of the seven blades to be injected and the indicator blade already in the stack. After the seven blades have been projected onto the stack, the tongue then moves to its original position. These two motions just described take place during each cycle of the machine. It should be noted that the spring I40 which holds the tongue 98 in normal position (Fig. 4) is stronger than the spring I01 which advances the frame carrying the roller 91, so that as blades are projected onto the stack the roller 91 recedes to make room for the successive increments as they are added. The tongue moves rearwardly only when caused to do so the lever I53.

by the pressure of the rod I36 exerted in accordance with its timing.

The tray feed One of the types of tray that the machine is capable of handling has already been described, and it is illustrated in Fig. 21. The machine operates by feeding this tray to the stack of blades that has been formed between the roller 91 and the upwardly projecting tip I39 of the tongue 98i. e., the stack of blades is not transferred to the tray, but the tray is moved to enclose the stack of blades while the latter is in the position where it was formed. This is accomplished by the slide I50 (Fig. 12) and its accompanying and actuating mechanism. The tray is placed by hand in the position shown in Fig. 12. The slide I50 then advances carrying the tray before it, and, as it approaches the tongue; a holder is actuated to clamp the stack, the tongue withdraws downwardly, and the tray is moved to encase the stack (see Figs. 14-17) The tray feeding mechanism Describing the tray feed mechanism, the slide I50 (Figs. 3 and 4) is actuated by the cam I5I operating on the cam follower I52 at the end of The lever I 53 is non-rotatably mounted on the rotatable shaft I54 on the other end of which is another lever I55 non-rotatably mounted thereon. The lever I55 is pivotally connected at I56 with the link I51. The link I51 is, in turn, pivotally connected to the lever I58 pivotally mounted at I60 to the main frame. The connection of the link I51 with the lever I58 is by means of the pivoted block I6I and the springs I62 and I63, both of these springs being expansion springs, the spring I62 bearing against the pivoted slide at one end and against the nut I64 at the other end and the spring I63 bearing against the pivoted slide I6I at one end and against the main frame at the other end. The spring I63 serves to maintain the cam follower I52 in contact with the cam I5I. The purpose of the spring I62 is to insure against breakage in the operation of the slide I50, as will be understood when the operation of the slide and its accompanying mechanism is explained. The free end of the lever I58 is pivotally connected at I65 with the link I66, and the link IE6 is pivotally connected at I61 with the lug I10 depending from the slide I50. The mechanism just described functions to cause a reciprocatory motion of the slide I50 in order to feed to the stack the box that is to be loaded (Fig. 12). On the slide I50 is mounted a push rod I1I sliding in the guides I12 and I13. Also on the slide I50 is a lever I14 pivotally mounted at I15. One fulcrum of the lever is the pin I16 projecting from the main frame of the machine, and the other end or arm bears against the push rod I1I, contact being maintained by the spring I 11 fastened at one end to the slide I50 and to the other end to arm I projecting from the push rod. A spring I8I fastened at one end to the slide I50 and at the other end to the arm I14a opposes the spring I11, being in fact strong enough to overcome it. It is obvious therefore that as the slide I50 is advanced on its working stroke toward the stacking line to carry the tray C thereto, the lever I14 will rotate on its pivot I15 and by virtue of the spring I8I cause the push rod to advance at a greater rate of speed than does the slide I50 with respect to the main frame of the machine.

It is now necessary to explain the up-and-down motion of the tongue 08. This up-and-down motion is effected by the cam I82 (Fig. 3) working on the cam follower I83 (Fig. 20) at the end of the lever I84. The lever is fixedly mounted in the shaft I85 and another lever I85a also mounted on the shaft I85 has a free end bearing on the roller I86 rotatably mounted on the tongue. The tongue is spring-pressed upwardly by means of a rod I88 slidably mounted in the fixed frame I90 resiliently pressed upwardly by the spring I9I which operates against the collar I92.

With the slide I50 receded as shown in Fig. 12, a tray C is deposited on the table of the machine in advance of the slide and with its open side facing the stack, which is assumed to have been formed (Fig. 12). This may be done by the empty tray feeding mechanism hereinafter described or the empty tray feeding mechanism may be dispensed with and the tray deposited by hand. The slide I50 then begins its advance motion and as the advance continues the push rod passes through the notch I93 in the tongue and clamps the stack against the roller 91. The slide I50 continues its advance and moves the tray to the position shown in Fig. 15, it being permitted to do this because the tray is lying on its side, the cutaway portion of which can surround the tongue. Thereupon the tongue drops clear of the tray as shown in Fig. 16, and the tray is advanced to enclose the stack.

It is now necessary to revert to the stacking operation:

Referring to Fig. 4, attention is called to the slide 200 terminating in the small platform 201 on which the blades rest as they are stacked (Fig. 4). This slide is spring-pressed by the spring 202 surrounding the rod 203 slidably mounted in bearings 204 and 204a affixed to the main frame. The action of the spring 202 is to drive the platform 20I against the tongue 98 when the latter is in upward position and to react against the pressure of the side of the tray as the latter is being moved forward to enclose the stack. As indicated by the dotted line 206 (Figs. 14-17), the stack of blades is elevated above the table 201 on which the tray slides a distance equal to the thickness of a Wall of the tray. Therefore, the side wall of the tray can slide under the stack as the former tray advances, driving back the slide 200 to the position shown in Fig. 16, the tongue at that time being out of the way of its movement. After the loaded tray has been removed, as will be explained presently, the tongue rises and the slide 200 moves forward as shown in Fig. 1'1 with the blade platform carried by it in contact with the tip I39 of the tongue.

The empty tray feeding mechanism Provision is made for depositing empty trays one by one into position to be carried to the stacking line by the slide I50 (see Figs. 2, 4, '1, and 8-particularly Fig. 4). Over the slide I 50 and at the front of the machine where theoperator is stationed is a platform 220 supported from the main frame of the machine on which a quantity of empty boxes may be dumped. From the platform the boxes are led through an open chute 228, the side walls of which (Fig. 8) are indicated by the numerals 22I and 222. The side wall 22I is provided with a groove 223 to accommodate the lug 6 projecting from one end of the tray, and the side wall 222 is provided with a groove 224 to accommodate the lip 4 projecting from the other end of the tray. There is, therefore, only one way of introducing a tray into the chute and therefore, when the chute is completely filled with trays, they are all uniformly oriented. As the bottom tray in the chute is driven to the stacking line by the slide I50 and the slide I50 is retracted, the next empty tray (now the bottom one) takes its position in advance of the slide and will be carried to the stacking line by the slide on the next working stroke. As has been hereinbefore remarked, this mechanism may be dispensed with and the tray simply deposited by hand in advance of the slide I 50 when the latter has receded.

The discharge mechanism Provision is made for automatically discharging loaded trays and conveying them to a suitable place of reception. This series of operations is initiated by a vertical movement of the ejector slide 225 (Figs. 4, 10, and 22) having two prongs 226 and 221 which terminate in seats 230 and 231 and in vertical projections 232 and 233 rising above the seats.

The blades as they are stacked bridge the two seats, one end of the stack overlying one seat and the other end overlying the other seat. When the tray has been moved forward and has enclosed the stack, the tray also bridges the seats and rests upon them and is also backed up against the vertical projections 232 and 233. The loaded tray is now resting on its side with the edges of the blades therein uppermost. This is the condition shown in Fig. 16. The ejector then moves upwardly carrying the loaded tray with it, without any change in its orientation, into the chute 234. Just after it enters the chute the two pawls 235, 235 (Fig. 6) pivoted at 238, 238 springpressed toward each other by the leaf springs 236, 236, spread against the tension of the spring to permit the tray to pass the hooks 231, 231. After the bottom of the tray has passed the hooks, the pawls spring inwardly and the hooks take under and support the loaded tray together with the column of trays, if any, that has preceded it. As each successive loaded tray is added, the column of loaded trays in the chute rises accordingly. It is intended that the blades forming the stack shall have been oiled or greased before stacking and shall thereby have sufficient adherence to each other to prevent dislocation of them. However, in order to insure stability, the vertical spacing strip 240 is affixed to the front wall 24I of the chute to fill out the space between the stack and the front wall 24I. The side walls 242 and 243 are provided with grooves (Fig. 8) in which the lug and the lip projecting from the tray, as has been hereinbefore described, may travel in the same manner as they travel in the tray feeding chute 228.

The movement of the ejector slide is controlled by a cam 244 (Fig. 3) c the shaft 6|. This cam operates on a cam fol ower 245 mounted at the end of a lever 246 (Fig. 20) This lever is loosely mounted on the shaft 241 and is provided with a cantilever leaf spring 250, the free end of which bears on the boss 25I projecting from the lever 252. This lever is fixedly mounted on the shaft 241. An adjusting screw 253 is threaded into the bracket 254 projecting from the lever 246. On the shaft 241 is fixedly but adjustably mounted by means of the clamp collar 255 a lever 256, the free end 251 of which carries a roller 260 which takes under the shoulder 26I of the ejector slide. To keep the cam follower 245 in contact with the the cut-out portion 285 in the slide 150.

cam and to make it follow the latter, there is slidingly mounted in the frame 190 a rod 262 resiliently pressed downwardly by the spring 263 bearing at one end against the plate 264 through which the rod slides and at the other end against the fixed collar 265 on the rod. The rod terminates in a hook (Figs. and which engages a pin 266 in the slide. The hook may be lifted off the pin against the tension of the spring 263 and swung around to the dotted position shown in Fig. 5 when for the purpose of replacement or otherwise it is desired to remove the ejector slide. The motion of the ejector slide therefore comprises a single complete stroke (up and down) for each cycle taking place when a tray has been fully loaded. When, by the action of the ejector slide, the loaded tray has been ejected upwardly and the "ejector slide has been fully retracted, the roller 91 snaps into the position shown in Fig. 4- i. e., against the tongue 98. slide 150 has already been retracted and an empty box has dropped into place ready to be loaded. This completes the cycle, and the machine is ready to repeat.

Each upward stroke of the ejector slide not only removes a loaded tray from the loading position and carries it into the chute 234, but it also lifts the topmost loaded tray D in the chute (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4) clear of the upper orifice of the chute. lying on its side with the edges of its contained blades upward. As soon as the tray D is clear of the upper orifice of the chute, a plunger 261 terminating in a block 210 with a sloping face 211 comes into action and with a quick stroke tips the loaded tray D and drives it into the chute 212, with its open side up. The loaded tray D then slides by gravity down the chute 212 to a suitable conveyor such as a series of rollers 211 having a peripheral groove of V-shape and of dimensions to accommodate the loaded tray as it is tipped at an angle on its bottom edge (Fig. 4). The tray then moves by gravity down the rollers to the desired place of reception.

The plunger 261 is directly acted upon by the two levers 213 and 213a rigidly mounted at 214 and 214a upon a shaft 214b rotatably mounted in the bearing 219. The free ends of the levers are connected by the cross-bar 218, which in turn passes through bearings in the ears 216, 216, depending from the plunger. Since the free ends of the arms are slotted as shown at 216a arcual motion of the ends of the levers 213 and 213a is permitted. One of these leverse. g., 213a is provided with a cam 280.

A bell crank lever pivotally mounted in a bearing 281 in the frame and having the two arms 282 and 283 is provided with a roller 284 at the end of the arm 282 which operates on the cam 280. The free end of the arm 283 engages in As the slide advances, it rocks the bell crank lever and by acting on the cam 280 causes the plunger to advance and tip the loaded tray D and project it into the chute 212 as has been before described. The cut-out portion 285 is long enough so that the plunger is not operated until the slide 150 has advanced a considerable distance on its working stroke (see Figs. 12 and 13).

It should be noted that the action of the plunger 261 is not violent enough to overcome the adherence to each other of the blades in a loaded tray, a result which is due to the oil or grease with which they are covered.

The tray feeding At this point the tray is'still The starting and stopping mechanism It may be desired to run the machine continuously or to start it by hand and stop it automatically at the beginning and end of a cycle. The latter would be the case if the empty tray feeding mechanism were not employed, in which event the empty trays would need be placed in position manually by the operator. The mechanism for starting at the beginning and stopping at the end of a cycle will now be described.

In the first place, safety mechanism is provided making it impossible to start a cycle unless an empty tray is in position for transfer to a stack as shown in Fig. 12. The pin 290 is slidably mounted in the main frame in line with the end wall of an empty tray when the latter is in the position just referred to. The presence of the tray prevents the pin from being driven beyond the guideway 291 in which the slide operates and in which the empty tray C is placed. The pin is normally retracted to the position shown in Fig. 12 by a spring 292 surrounding it, one end bearing against the seat 293 and the other against the collar 294 afiixed to the pin. On the frame is pivotally mounted at 295 a lever having the arms 296 and 291. A bell crank lever having the arms 300 and 301 is pivoted at 302 to the main frame. The arm 296 is adapted to bear against the head 303 of the pin and the arm 291 is adapted to bear against the arm 300 of the bell crank lever.

The shaft 304 controls the clutch. It is rotated for this purpose by swinging the crank 305 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12. Rigidly mounted on the shaft 304 is the lever 306 through an eye in the free end of which passes the rod 301 pivotally connected at 310 with the arm 300. A spring 311 under compression is interposed between the eye 312 and the clevis 313 which serves to connect the rod 301 with the arm 300. Another spring 314 under compression is interposed between the eye 312 and the stop nut 315 on the rod. On the shaft 304 there is rig idly mounted an arm 316 which may be integral with the arm 306. It will now be seen that, if the shaft 304 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the simultaneous rotation in a clockwise direction of the lever 306 will tend to rock the bell crank in a clockwise direction and drive the pin 290 so that its end projects beyond the guideway 291. If no empty tray C be in position, the rotation of the shaft will actually cause this to take place and will permit the hook 311 on the end of the arm 301 to engage the arm 316, thus preventing rotation of the shaft 304 and the clutch canont be engaged. If, on the other hand, an empty tray be in place turning the crank handle to engage the clutch will cause the hook 311 to ride on the end surface of the arm 316, thus preventing pressure of the spring 301 from being transmitted through the pin 290 to the tray.

The function of the spring 311 is to counterbalance the spring 314. The bearings for the shaft 304 are indicated by the numerals 320 and 321 supported by brackets extending from the main frame.

The mode of operation was explained as the description proceeded, but the order in which the motions of the cam-operated parts take place can be better understood by referring to Fig. 24, which is a timing chart of a complete cycle.

The numeral 325 illustrates diagrammatically a clutch for throwing the power on and off, and it may be assumed to be either a continuously operating clutch or a one-cycle clutch according as the circumstances already discussed make desirable. Both of these types of clutches ar so well known that they need no detailed description, especially in view of the fact that they have nothing to do with the scope of the invention.

If it is desired to omit the indicator blade from the stack, only a few simple changes in the machine need be made. The finger I25 of the indicator blade slide 8| should b removed, although it is desirable to retain the slide itself and its operating mechanism in order to work the gauge I2I, since proper alignment of the sharpened blades projected into the stack in the process of formation is still necessary. The slides 50 and 5| may be caused to reciprocate in unison, if desired, although this is not necessary as the stack can still be formed with separate strokes of each. The thickness of the vertical strip 240 should be increased by the thickness of one blade. Motions of the tongue 98 may remain as they are as well as all other motions of the cycle.

I have described above certain embodiments of my invention and a preferred process for producing it with certain modifications thereof, but

in form, construction, and arrangement of parts,

and also to make various changes in the process of manufacture falling within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, a second slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for feeding blades between the tongue and the frame in opposition to the resilient resistance of the latter, means for advancing the first slide to carry a tray to enclose a stack between the tongue and the frame, means for advancing the second slide to project it through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the frame, and means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first slide and the frame during the feeding stroke of the first slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the frame until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the second slide and the frame.

2. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, means for stacking blades against the tongue, means for pressing the stack against the tongue, a reciprocably 'mounted slide on the platform for advancing an empty tray to enclose the stack, a second slide mounted on the first slide, means for projecting the second slide through the aperture in the tray and through the notch in the tongue for clamping the stack against the pressing means, means for advancing the first slide for carrying the empty tray to enclose the stack, and means for withdrawing the tongue after the second slide has been fully advanced and while the first slide is advancing the tray to enclose the stack.

3. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, mean s f q1; s t acking bl ades, against the tongue, means for presshis the stack against the tongue, a reciprocably mounted slide on the platform for advancing an empty tray to enclose the stacl? a second slide I mounted on the first slide, means for projecting the second slide through the aperture in the tray and through the notch in the tongue for clamping the stack against the pressing means, said means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the first slide and having two arms, one of which bears against the end of the second slide to advance it and the other of which bears against a fixed portion of the platform, the lever being under spring tension against said second slide and against said fixed portion, means for advancing the first slide for carrying the empty tray to enclose the stack, and means for withdrawing the tongue after the second slide has been fully advanced and while the first slide is advancing the tray to enclose the stack.

4. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the frame and offset from the side of the tongue against which the frame bears for feed ing blades from the column to position between the tongue and the frame, a third slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the frame, cam means for keeping the notched end .of the tongue in the path of movement of the first-mentioned slide and the frame during the feeding stroke of the second-mentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the frame until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the third slide and the frame.

5. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and provided with a roller yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the roller and offset from the side of the tongue against which the roller bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the roller, a third slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the roller, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first-mentioned slide and the roller during the feeding stroke of the second-mentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the firstmentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the roller until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the third slide and the roller,

6. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and provided with a roller yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the roller and offset from the side of the tongue against which the roller bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the roller, a third slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp, a stack of blades against the roller, said means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the fir slide and having one arm bearing against the third slide and the other bearing against a fixed portion of the platform and stressed in a direction to advance the third slide, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the firstmentioned slide and the roller during the feeding stroke of the second-mentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the firstmentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the roller until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the third slide and the roller.

7. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end, said end projecting above the platform, said tongue being mounted for withdrawal completely below the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and provided with a roller yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the roller and offset from the side of the tongue against which the roller bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the roller, a third slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom Wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the roller, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first-mentioned slide and the roller during the feeding stroke of the secondmentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the roller until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the third slide and the roller.

8. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls,

, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a carriage slidably mounted to travel parallel with said walls and provided with an equalizing shoe extending into the channel, said carriag being provided with means normally advancing the shoe against a column of blades in the channel at substantially constant pressure regardless of the number of blades in the channel, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the frame and offset from th side of the tongue against which the frame bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the frame, a third slide mounted on the firstmentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the frame, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first-mentioned slide and the frame during the feeding stroke of th secondmentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the frame until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the third slide and the frame.

9. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom walls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a frame slidably mounted on the platform and provided with a roller yieldably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from the other side of the tongue, walls forming a channel on the platform adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed flatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path at right angles to the path of motion of the roller and offset from the side of the tongue against which the roller bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the roller, a third slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the sam direction as that of the first slide, means for causing the third slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the roller, a pair of vertically movable ejector slides projecting upwardly through the platform one on each side of the roller and both adjacent the tongue and positioned to receive a stack of blades projected by the third slide, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first-mentioned slide and the roller during the feeding stroke of the secondmentioned slide and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the said third slide has contacted with the stack, cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform and with its open top directed toward the roller until said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the Search triom third slide and the roller, and cam means for elevating the ejector slides with a loaded tray resting thereon.

10. A machine for loading blades and the like into trays having openings in their bottom \valls, comprising a platform, a tongue provided with a notch in its end and mounted for reciprocation perpendicularly to the platform, a fram slidably mounted on the platform and yielclably but resiliently bearing against one side of the tongue, a slide mounted on the platform for reciprocation toward and away from th other side of the tongue, walls forming two channels on the platform one on each side of the frame, said channels being adjacent to and parallel with the frame and adapted to confine a column of blades placed fiatwise against each other with their edges up, a second slide mounted for reciprocating motion in a path across one of said channels at right angles to the path of motion of the frame and offset from the side of the tongue against which the frame bears for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the frame, a third slide contiguous to the second slide also for feeding blades from the column to position between the tongue and the frame, a fourth slide mounted on the first-mentioned slide for reciprocating motion in the same direction as that of the first slide, a fifth slide mounted for reciprocating motion across the other of said channels in a path offset from the side of the tongue against which the frame bears for feeding blades from the said other channel to position between the tongue and the frame, means for causing the fourth slide to be projected through the opening in the bottom wall of the tray and through the notch in the tongue to clamp a stack of blades against the roller, cam means for keeping the notched end of the tongue in the path of movement of the first slide and the roller during the feeding strokes of the second, third, and fifth slides and for withdrawing it out of the said path of movement after the fourth slide has contacted with the stack, and cam means for operating the first-mentioned slide after the tongue has been withdrawn for advancing a tray lying on its side on the platform with its open top directed toward the roller until the said tray encloses a stack of blades clamped between the fourth slide and the roller.

HERMANN HILL. 

